Facts about Osteochondritis Dissecans in Equines
A private practice equine veterinarian, Dr. Phillip Kapraun focuses on rehabilitating lame performance horses. Currently treating animals at Harvard Equine Practice in Harvard, Illinois, Phillip Kapraun, DVM, pioneered the development of the now standard treatment for equine osteochondritis dissecans. Osteochondritis dissecans is a developmental disease in which cracks in the cartilage lead the joint to become inflamed. A condition frequently located around the leg joints, osteochondritis dissecans can occur in any joint. Affecting some breeds more than others, osteochondritis dissecans can have an incident rate as high as 80 percent in some breeds, such as Standardbreds and warmbloods, and can cause lameness. With genetic factors thought to account for between 25 percent and 50 percent of occurrences of the disease in horses, some environmental factors can also contribute to the development of osteochondritis dissecans. These factors may include heavier-than-average weight, copper deficiency, irregular exercise, and overly high phosphorus intake relative to calcium intake. The most common symptom associated with the disease is fluid retention in the joints.
